13
Apr 2024
14:57 UTC
Americas Tactical (UPDATE): Pro-Palestinian group A15 Action calls for “multi-city economic blockade”, protests regionwide on April 15; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- According to social media reports, a pro-Palestinian group called A15 Action has called for global protests including in the Americas region, under the banner of “Coordinated Economic Blockade to Free Palestine”, on April 15.
- The organizers claim that as part of this “multicity economic blockade”, pro-Palestinian protesters will seek to “blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact”. Furthermore, the group clarified that they would coordinate to “disrupt and blockade economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital.”
- Although A15 Action has not clearly stated potential protest locations, several other local pro-Palestinian groups, adhering to the protest call have organized actions in the vicinity of ports, transport hubs, and major technological companies for April 15.
- Pro-Palestinian protest groups and social movements such as “Within Our Lifetime” and “Answer Coalition” have expressed their support and participation in the “multi-city economic blockade” and have announced to organize associated protest actions in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto in Canada, Bogota and Medellin in Colombia, Mexico City in Mexico, and Uruguay.
- Multiple cities in the USA, have also confirmed their participation including: Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Fremont, CA; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Long Beach, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis-St Paul, MN; New York City & New Jersey; Oakland, CA; Orange County, CA; Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; St Louis, MO; Tallahassee, FL; Tampa, FL; and Portland, OR.
Details on associated pro-Palestinian protest actions in Canada and Mexico are as follows:
- In Montreal, QC, Canada a protest action is slated at the Port of Montreal at 06:45 (local time).
- In Montreal, QC, Canada a protest action is slated at the Port of Montreal at 06:45 (local time).
- In Halifax, NS, Canada, a protest will be held at the Peace and Friendship Park at 08:00.
- In Halifax, NS, Canada, a protest will be held at the Peace and Friendship Park at 08:00.
- In Ottawa, ON, Canada, a memorial motorcade and associated vigil is being organized by a local pro-Palestinian group. The protest will begin at three locations: four-wheelers will begin from Keene Park 07:00, bike riders will commence from Bethune and Charlotte at 07:15, and pedestrian protesters will protest in front of a private bank in downtown area at 08:00.
- In Ottawa, ON, Canada, a memorial motorcade and associated vigil is being organized by a local pro-Palestinian group. The protest will begin at three locations: four-wheelers will begin from Keene Park 07:00, bike riders will commence from Bethune and Charlotte at 07:15, and pedestrian protesters will protest in front of a private bank in downtown area at 08:00.
- In Mexico City, Mexico, protestors have planned a blockade along Avenida Paseo de la Reforma at 16:00.
- In Mexico City, Mexico, protestors have planned a blockade along Avenida Paseo de la Reforma at 16:00.
Details regarding the protests in the USA are as follows:
- In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated in front of the office of an American multinational technology company located at 1105 W Peachtree St NW at 11:00.
- In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated in front of the office of an American multinational technology company located at 1105 W Peachtree St NW at 11:00.
- In Chandler, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the campus of another American multinational technology company located at 5000 W Chandler Blvd from 06:00-21:00.
- In Chandler, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the campus of another American multinational technology company located at 5000 W Chandler Blvd from 06:00-21:00.
- In Fremont, CA, protesters will congregate at Warms Springs Bart at 17:30 and proceed for a protest march to the factory of an American multinational automotive company located in the immediate vicinity.
- In Fremont, CA, protesters will congregate at Warms Springs Bart at 17:30 and proceed for a protest march to the factory of an American multinational automotive company located in the immediate vicinity.
- In Maui, HI, protesters are slated to block Kahului Harbor at 08:30.
- In Maui, HI, protesters are slated to block Kahului Harbor at 08:30.
- In Oakland, CA, a protest is slated at the West Oakland Bart Station at 07:00.
- In Oakland, CA, a protest is slated at the West Oakland Bart Station at 07:00.
- In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated in front of the City Hall at 08:00.
- In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated in front of the City Hall at 08:00.
- In Hillsboro, OR, a protest is slated in the vicinity of the campus of an American multinational technological company located in the northern parts of the city. The exact location of the protest remains unconfirmed.
- The exact protest locations and timings in the remaining participating cities remains unconfirmed as of writing.
- In Hillsboro, OR, a protest is slated in the vicinity of the campus of an American multinational technological company located in the northern parts of the city. The exact location of the protest remains unconfirmed.
- The exact protest locations and timings in the remaining participating cities remains unconfirmed as of writing.
Assessments & Forecast
- Besides the aforementioned confirmed locations, most protest and blockade locations remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, based on their intent to disrupt “economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital” and “production and circulation”, potential protest locations could include logistics hubs, major transportation routes, financial organizations, and companies perceived as pro-Israel.
- With regards to logistics and trade – port facilities, major road and rail cargo transit routes, and airports managing cargo flights are likely to be potential protest locations. This is further buttressed by pro-Palestinian activists blocking the entry to Vancouver port in Canada on April 11 and the Oakland Port in California, USA on January 13. In addition, on March 29, some protesters chained themselves to the gangway of the USNS Harvey Milk in San Francisco waterfront in California, claiming that the ship was bound for Gaza to support Israel’s military effort. Furthermore, with “Within Our Lifetime”, another pro-Palestinian group claiming to halt trading on the New York Stock Exchange in the USA by blockading the Wall Street in New York City, NY, banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, and other financial corporations in the USA also remain plausible targets.
- In addition, warehouses and factories of automotive, major technology, and defense manufacturing companies perceived to be complicit in the Israel-Hamas conflict are also likely to remain potential protest locations.
- The possibility of spontaneous protests in public squares and parks across cities in the USA remains high, given that the A15 has urged local organizers to comply with the April 15 call for global action.
- Judging by the social media traction on A15 Action’s call for a “multicity economic blockade”, coupled with the recent precedent of protests held since at least the first week of April, the upcoming demonstrations are anticipated to draw varying turnouts between the high dozens to-mid thousands at each location. Protests outside ports, transportation hubs, logistics centers, and companies perceived as pro-Israel especially technology and defense manufacturing firms, are likely to draw a lower turnout in the high dozens-to-mid hundreds, at each location. Conversely, protests in major squares or outside government buildings are likely to draw a higher turnout, potentially reaching mid-thousands, especially in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Mexico City, and New York City.
- Considering the polarizing rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with anti-Israel sentiments particularly heightened following the death of seven foreign aid workers due to an Israeli strike on April 1 in central Gaza, there is a credible potential for isolated security incidents in the vicinity of the protests. This is likely to manifest as verbal harassment and physical assaults against pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian activists, and vandalism targeting Jewish establishments and Israeli diplomatic offices, largely in the form of spray painting the facades of such buildings with antisemitic symbols.
- Besides, given the organizers’ stance on non-cooperation with the law enforcement, the protesters are unlikely to deliberately clash with the security forces deployed at the protest sites. However, given the anticipated disruptive tactics including potentially breaching the security of the logistics and manufacturing facilities and private offices, law enforcement personnel are likely to pre-emptively secure the perimeters of strategic logistics and manufacturing facilities and respond with forcible dispersal measures including carrying out arrests. Should the police attempt to forcibly disperse the protesters, an escalation in unrest manifesting as localized clashes remain plausible. The widespread adherence to the protest action and the potential pre-emptive security measures are expected to prompt significant disruptions to traffic near the protest locations throughout the day.
- Furthermore, with several commercial and logistical hubs, particularly ports remaining a primary target for the blockade, including at the Port of Montreal in Montreal, limited delays to supply chains can be anticipated on April 15, with a possibility of lingering disruptions continuing the following day.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in the Americas on April 15, particularly in Canada and the USA are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of pro-Palestinian protest actions due to the potential for an escalation in unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel, financial services, the operation of logistics and trade hubs, and manufacturing and industrial facilities due to the likelihood for protesters to employ disruptive tactics amid the “multi-city economic blockade”.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Medium
AFFECTED AREA
Americas
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- According to social media reports, a pro-Palestinian group called A15 Action has called for global protests including in the Americas region, under the banner of “Coordinated Economic Blockade to Free Palestine”, on April 15.
- The organizers claim that as part of this “multicity economic blockade”, pro-Palestinian protesters will seek to “blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact”. Furthermore, the group clarified that they would coordinate to “disrupt and blockade economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital.”
- Although A15 Action has not clearly stated potential protest locations, several other local pro-Palestinian groups, adhering to the protest call have organized actions in the vicinity of ports, transport hubs, and major technological companies for April 15.
- Pro-Palestinian protest groups and social movements such as “Within Our Lifetime” and “Answer Coalition” have expressed their support and participation in the “multi-city economic blockade” and have announced to organize associated protest actions in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto in Canada, Bogota and Medellin in Colombia, Mexico City in Mexico, and Uruguay.
- Multiple cities in the USA, have also confirmed their participation including: Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Fremont, CA; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Long Beach, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis-St Paul, MN; New York City & New Jersey; Oakland, CA; Orange County, CA; Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; St Louis, MO; Tallahassee, FL; Tampa, FL; and Portland, OR.
Details on associated pro-Palestinian protest actions in Canada and Mexico are as follows:
- In Montreal, QC, Canada a protest action is slated at the Port of Montreal at 06:45 (local time).
- In Montreal, QC, Canada a protest action is slated at the Port of Montreal at 06:45 (local time).
- In Halifax, NS, Canada, a protest will be held at the Peace and Friendship Park at 08:00.
- In Halifax, NS, Canada, a protest will be held at the Peace and Friendship Park at 08:00.
- In Ottawa, ON, Canada, a memorial motorcade and associated vigil is being organized by a local pro-Palestinian group. The protest will begin at three locations: four-wheelers will begin from Keene Park 07:00, bike riders will commence from Bethune and Charlotte at 07:15, and pedestrian protesters will protest in front of a private bank in downtown area at 08:00.
- In Ottawa, ON, Canada, a memorial motorcade and associated vigil is being organized by a local pro-Palestinian group. The protest will begin at three locations: four-wheelers will begin from Keene Park 07:00, bike riders will commence from Bethune and Charlotte at 07:15, and pedestrian protesters will protest in front of a private bank in downtown area at 08:00.
- In Mexico City, Mexico, protestors have planned a blockade along Avenida Paseo de la Reforma at 16:00.
- In Mexico City, Mexico, protestors have planned a blockade along Avenida Paseo de la Reforma at 16:00.
Details regarding the protests in the USA are as follows:
- In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated in front of the office of an American multinational technology company located at 1105 W Peachtree St NW at 11:00.
- In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated in front of the office of an American multinational technology company located at 1105 W Peachtree St NW at 11:00.
- In Chandler, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the campus of another American multinational technology company located at 5000 W Chandler Blvd from 06:00-21:00.
- In Chandler, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the campus of another American multinational technology company located at 5000 W Chandler Blvd from 06:00-21:00.
- In Fremont, CA, protesters will congregate at Warms Springs Bart at 17:30 and proceed for a protest march to the factory of an American multinational automotive company located in the immediate vicinity.
- In Fremont, CA, protesters will congregate at Warms Springs Bart at 17:30 and proceed for a protest march to the factory of an American multinational automotive company located in the immediate vicinity.
- In Maui, HI, protesters are slated to block Kahului Harbor at 08:30.
- In Maui, HI, protesters are slated to block Kahului Harbor at 08:30.
- In Oakland, CA, a protest is slated at the West Oakland Bart Station at 07:00.
- In Oakland, CA, a protest is slated at the West Oakland Bart Station at 07:00.
- In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated in front of the City Hall at 08:00.
- In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated in front of the City Hall at 08:00.
- In Hillsboro, OR, a protest is slated in the vicinity of the campus of an American multinational technological company located in the northern parts of the city. The exact location of the protest remains unconfirmed.
- The exact protest locations and timings in the remaining participating cities remains unconfirmed as of writing.
- In Hillsboro, OR, a protest is slated in the vicinity of the campus of an American multinational technological company located in the northern parts of the city. The exact location of the protest remains unconfirmed.
- The exact protest locations and timings in the remaining participating cities remains unconfirmed as of writing.
Assessments & Forecast
- Besides the aforementioned confirmed locations, most protest and blockade locations remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, based on their intent to disrupt “economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital” and “production and circulation”, potential protest locations could include logistics hubs, major transportation routes, financial organizations, and companies perceived as pro-Israel.
- With regards to logistics and trade – port facilities, major road and rail cargo transit routes, and airports managing cargo flights are likely to be potential protest locations. This is further buttressed by pro-Palestinian activists blocking the entry to Vancouver port in Canada on April 11 and the Oakland Port in California, USA on January 13. In addition, on March 29, some protesters chained themselves to the gangway of the USNS Harvey Milk in San Francisco waterfront in California, claiming that the ship was bound for Gaza to support Israel’s military effort. Furthermore, with “Within Our Lifetime”, another pro-Palestinian group claiming to halt trading on the New York Stock Exchange in the USA by blockading the Wall Street in New York City, NY, banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, and other financial corporations in the USA also remain plausible targets.
- In addition, warehouses and factories of automotive, major technology, and defense manufacturing companies perceived to be complicit in the Israel-Hamas conflict are also likely to remain potential protest locations.
- The possibility of spontaneous protests in public squares and parks across cities in the USA remains high, given that the A15 has urged local organizers to comply with the April 15 call for global action.
- Judging by the social media traction on A15 Action’s call for a “multicity economic blockade”, coupled with the recent precedent of protests held since at least the first week of April, the upcoming demonstrations are anticipated to draw varying turnouts between the high dozens to-mid thousands at each location. Protests outside ports, transportation hubs, logistics centers, and companies perceived as pro-Israel especially technology and defense manufacturing firms, are likely to draw a lower turnout in the high dozens-to-mid hundreds, at each location. Conversely, protests in major squares or outside government buildings are likely to draw a higher turnout, potentially reaching mid-thousands, especially in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Mexico City, and New York City.
- Considering the polarizing rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with anti-Israel sentiments particularly heightened following the death of seven foreign aid workers due to an Israeli strike on April 1 in central Gaza, there is a credible potential for isolated security incidents in the vicinity of the protests. This is likely to manifest as verbal harassment and physical assaults against pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian activists, and vandalism targeting Jewish establishments and Israeli diplomatic offices, largely in the form of spray painting the facades of such buildings with antisemitic symbols.
- Besides, given the organizers’ stance on non-cooperation with the law enforcement, the protesters are unlikely to deliberately clash with the security forces deployed at the protest sites. However, given the anticipated disruptive tactics including potentially breaching the security of the logistics and manufacturing facilities and private offices, law enforcement personnel are likely to pre-emptively secure the perimeters of strategic logistics and manufacturing facilities and respond with forcible dispersal measures including carrying out arrests. Should the police attempt to forcibly disperse the protesters, an escalation in unrest manifesting as localized clashes remain plausible. The widespread adherence to the protest action and the potential pre-emptive security measures are expected to prompt significant disruptions to traffic near the protest locations throughout the day.
- Furthermore, with several commercial and logistical hubs, particularly ports remaining a primary target for the blockade, including at the Port of Montreal in Montreal, limited delays to supply chains can be anticipated on April 15, with a possibility of lingering disruptions continuing the following day.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in the Americas on April 15, particularly in Canada and the USA are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of pro-Palestinian protest actions due to the potential for an escalation in unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel, financial services, the operation of logistics and trade hubs, and manufacturing and industrial facilities due to the likelihood for protesters to employ disruptive tactics amid the “multi-city economic blockade”.